Friends and Neighbours

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Arthur Askey and his music hall inspired gentle humour but I have to acknowledge that his movies were very hit and miss. Ghost Train is one of my all time favourites but others are sometimes hard to sit through.

I thought I had all Arthur's cinematic releases but only recently discovered this one. I think I'd assumed it was lost but obviously I was wrong. So I sat down to watch this later period effort noting that it was written by the legendary Talbot Rothwell of Carry on fame and the strong supporting cast.

I think I was only 2 minutes in when I realised it wasn't going to be a classic!

There are a couple of funny moments as Arthur and his family win the honour of giving lodgings to visiting Russian dignitaries but overall it is very very dated and a most out of the ordinary performance from Askey . It's certainly watchable but by no means essential. For Askey completists only I would suggest.